Date of issue: 18 April 2023

[from the PostNL press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Holland America Line’s 150th anniversary

PostNL will publish the gold Holland America Line’s 150th anniversary stamp on 18 April 2023 to mark the renowned cruise line’s special milestone. The stamp made with 24-carat gold was produced in a limited edition of just 1,000. The denomination on these stamps is ‘1’, the denomination for items weighing up to 20g destined for the Netherlands. PostNL will supply the gold stamp with a luxury storage box and a certificate of authenticity. The retail price is €50 (currently about $55 USD).

PostNL publishes limited edition gold stamps exclusively to mark special anniversaries and other memorable occasions.

Holland America Line is a renowned cruise line that was founded 150 years ago as the Nederlandsch-Amerikaansche Stoomvaart-Maatschappij (Dutch-American Steamship Company, NASM), or in Dutch everyday parlance: Holland-Amerika Lijn (HAL). The NASM added this name to its name given in the articles of association in 1896. The company maintained a shipping link between the Netherlands and the USA, which was partly facilitated by the opening of the Nieuwe Waterweg [‘New Waterway’] ship canal in 1875.

The transatlantic connection between Rotterdam and New York existed from 1873 to 1971. The shipping route significantly contributed to land movements from Europe to America – and especially emigration. During wartime, the ships were used to transport millions of soldiers. Increasing competition from the aviation industry shifted the focus to using passenger ships for cruise travel. In 1989, the company was acquired by Carnival Corporation – a holding company that by that time owned nine shipping companies.

Holland America’s Dutch origins live on in the names of its ships. Since the company was founded, the ships have sailed under the Dutch flag and, to this day, are often commanded by Dutch officers. The modern-day Holland America Line has eleven cruise ships, which take over 500 cruises spanning all continents each year.

The stamp features an illustration of two iconic ships from this shipping company’s long history, both named “the Rotterdam.” The ships are presented side by side: on the left is the newest cruise ship, the seventh of that name, from 2021, and on the right is the first steamer and brig dating back to 1873.

The two ships are linked by a quiet bow wave below. The title Holland America Line’s 150th anniversary is printed in bold capitals above the ships, alongside the foundation year (1873) and anniversary year (2023).

Stamp designer Frank Janse began the design process by visiting the cruise ship, which he called “magnificent.” “I’d never been on a cruise ship before,” he said. “It was impressively large and organised to perfection. I suppose it has to be, with thousands of passengers and crew on board.”

Janse had to decide which way to face the ships, left or right. Also, “I had to let a few other ideas go. For instance, I originally included the Statue of Liberty and Hotel New York in the illustration as symbols representing both port cities. But they turned out much too small – they were hardly recognisable on the postage stamp.”

The 1873 Rotterdam carried 400 passengers and 50 crew members, whereas the 2021 Rotterdam accommodates 2,700 passengers and 1,000 crew members. The old ship weighed 1,700 gross tonnes (1,874 short tons U.S.) and could reach a speed of 10.5 knots (about 12 mph or 19 kph), whereas the modern namesake weighs nearly 100,000 gross metric tonnes (110,231 tons) and has a top speed of 18 knots (20.7 mph or 33 kph).

The stamps are available while stocks last at www.postnl.nl/bijzondere-postzegels [the stamp was not yet listed on 15 April]

Technical Details:
Stamp size: 30 x 40mm (wxh):
Appearance: 1 personalised gold stamp packaged in a luxury storage box : with a certificate of authenticity
Denomination: Denomination 1 for post weighing up to 20g with : destinations within the Netherlands
Material: 24-carat gold
Print run: 1,000 gold stamps
Design: Frank Janse, Gouda
Item number: 830023